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A midwinter’s message
As I sit writing this column, winter’s snowflakes are falling gently outside my window. Each snowflake is so beautiful and unique. They say that no two snowflakes are alike and this makes me think of my patients with diabetes, and how no two people will experience diabetes in exactly the same way. Each person has their unique challenges, schedules, meal plans and lifestyles. It’s the job of their physicians to recognize their uniqueness and tailor their treatment to meet their specific needs.
In September, the Canadian Diabetes Association 2008 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Canada was released. This is an extensive document, which physicians must read, and then decide how best to apply the recommendations to you, their patients. The extensive nature of this document does not make this an easy task for physicians. Therefore, the Association will be disseminating this knowledge to family physicians in a user-friendly format in the coming months. In parallel, Diabetes Dialogue will also publish and summarize the key points from certain pertinent chapters of this document so that you can discuss with your physician how these recommendations apply to you. Working together with your physician makes for better communication, understanding and, ultimately, better healthcare. I urge you to read the article by Cynthia Lank that gives an overview of the new Association guidelines.
Also in this issue, you will meet four outstanding Canadian researchers, and Rosie Schwartz shares her tips on decreasing fat and calories from your diet and how to eat in moderation. Barb Gormley highlights the benefits of skiing, and gives great insight on how to enjoy the sport safely.
Finally, we hope you enjoy the new, more contemporary look of Diabetes Dialogue. In future issues, we will be adding other enhancements designed to make your reading more enjoyable. Thank you for your continued support.
— Diane Donat MD MSc MEd FRCPS
Editor-in-Chief